Rocky Elsom worth 18 points?

Howdy crew, back from the land of the long white cloud, Air New Zealand Cup and the Rugby Channel...each worth a thread of their own. But since we have just seen Australia maintain their Eden Park losing streak I thought I would throw another controversial one to the masses...

Notwithstanding his (dubious) try allowed by a South African TMO getting it blatantly wrong (again - what's with that) Rocky Elsom was penalised 6 times in the first half.

Now, here is the question - is his aggression in play worth giving away up to 18 points a match from his lack of discipline? I would say not, and no matter how good he is around the park, if he draws the number of penalties that he does, he is only helping the other team.

Of course, he wasn't the only flanker who had a brain freeze getting himself pinged, but it was disappointing to see Elsom nailed so many times. It will be interesting to see what the press say about it this week.

Fair chance we all know what the NZ press will be saying about it/him!!!
You are probably right blindsid3, perhaps he is better suited as an impact bench player than entrusting so much of the match to him.
I do think he is improving that aspect of his game though and just needs some good tutoring by someone like Owen Finnegan who was a master of controlled aggression.
I think he will be really fighting for his position next year when Hugh McMenimen returns from injury as I feel he offers far more facets than Elsom.
I was a little perplexed as to why Knuckles didn't bring Smith on (apart from the Blood Bin) and can only think it was pre-determined that Waugh would play the match out unless injured.

I was very disappointed in how many times he was penalised. Surely a do-or-die Eden Park match is not the time or place to rely upon an "improving" player? If he could just show a bit more control...
I also partly blame Elsom for the awful, awful language let loose at the screen in our house. By me. I certainly don't want to hear that sort of thing again, so Rocky better pull his head in.

And, no, I don't think that was a try, as much as I would have liked it to be.

Rockys enthusiasim is great - Rockys lack of discipline is not.

I think that Mr Connollys failure to use the reserves bench was a disgrace.

Can anyone provide any insight into why Connolly is so reluctant to move players on and off the bench? Isn't that what they're there for?

why was someone as highly rated as smith left on the bench :S

Loti had a much better game, he's been shut down the past few

having smith on the bench for the whole match (bar the blood bin rule) was a joke! an absolute joke! i couldn't believe he was put on the bench in the first place let alone actually sitting on it for most of the 80 minutes! what were you thinking knuckles?!? :S

Gerry... can you have a word to him for us?

he was probably thinking we need to try something different or else why did they give me this job - I have no problem with Smith starting from the bench.

I do agree we don't use out bench as much as we should though!!

lote recieved 5 games - although it only covers 1 test...

seems rather a stupid way of giving out bans for games they wouldn't have played anyways?

not really.. if it were 5 tests would you allow him to drop down and play local level ? no rugby for him until Nov will learn him!